Barnett keeps his head while those around him lose theirs

Published 4:00 am, Friday, October 31, 1997

WHILE THE Warriors have collapsed around him the past few years, Jim Barnett has calmly provided rational explanations from his nightly courtside seat.

The NBA has lurched toward rule by teenage prodigies with individual priorities and nine-figure salaries, but Barnett prefers to avoid discussions of the big picture. He is more concerned with the state of a game than the state of the game.

Now the fracas involves him directly. He watched his friend and broadcast partner Greg Papa lose his job with the team earlier this fall in an inordinately public and contentious manner. And Barnett awaits his marching orders for the season as the Warriors attempt a last-minute settlement with SportsChannel to telecast their home games.

He begins the 1997-98 campaign seated next to new partner Bob Fitzgerald Friday night when the Warriors open the season in Minnesota against the Timberwolves on KICU-Channel 36.

"I have been an individual my entire life," Barnett said. "I can compartmentalize, shut out distractions. I've been able to do it as a player and a businessman and an analyst. All of those things that people consider distractions and unsettling don't affect me in the least."

He bristles at questions about the bombardment of ego, greed and hype that is beginning to characterize the NBA.

"I look at each game as a separate entity, and hopefully the game will take care of selling itself in the broader picture," Barnett said. "I don't like to sell the sizzle and not the steak, but that's happened a lot in sports. You go into the arena with all the sound and movement. They are hyping the game, but I think it's a good enough game to go on its own merits.

"I look at each game unfolding. That's why I love my job. I still love doing a game."

While Barnett believes in being positive during his broadcasts, the Warriors have certainly tested that philosophy. Barnett, however, has been able to strike a rare balance as a broadcaster. He has been neither an apologist nor an alarmist. He has been honest about the team's shortcomings without ever seeming to take a shot. His criticisms have been constructive, and he has offered no excuses.

Barnett has no illusions about a championship season, or even a guaranteed postseason berth. But he likes the moves the team has made to improve itself in the areas of rebounding and interior defense.

"They have addressed a major weakness in those areas," Barnett said.

"But this team is going to have a difficult time scoring. They lost their two best shooters in (Chris) Mullin and (Mark) Price. They do not have shooters, they have more scorers than shooters."

If the Warriors don't strike a deal with SportsChannel regarding the home-game package, Barnett will work with Tim Roye on home radio broadcasts.

And Barnett is confident that his new partnership with Fitzgerald will work out fine.

"Bob is extremely bright, and I'm sure he is going to prepare himself to the best of his ability," Barnett said.

Barnett said he enjoyed working with Papa but understands that no one is indispensable.

"I told Greg that myself," Barnett said. "I enjoyed working with him, and there's no question about his ability. But there were signs in the front office that pointed to Greg being a little more loyal that perhaps he didn't feel or didn't see.

"It's unfortunate. I think (owner) Chris (Cohan) took some unneeded heat about the whole thing. Had it been played right, Greg might still be here, but life goes on."

Warriors' TV update&lt;

Just eight days before the team's home opener, there is still no agreement between the Warriors and SportsChannel to televise the majority of their home games this season.

Team counsel Robin Baggett said that an offer is on the table - a two-year deal that does not include the right of first refusal SportsChannel wants - with a deadline of next Friday. And Baggett said that if SportsChannel does not respond the Warriors will shop the home-game package to other outlets like Bay TV. SportsChannel has offered no response except to say the two sides are still talking and the cable outlet is hopeful.

"If they don't accept that, our position will be to try and put the home games on another cable outlet," Baggett said.

Baggett confirmed the two sides may meet Friday, "in a court setting." Sources say the meeting is a court-supervised mediation session.

The team's first game not scheduled to be televised is Nov. 12. And SportsChannel could pursue legal action if there is no settlement.

That threat, paired with the mutual interest in a resolution by both parties, should lead to home games on TV in the near future.

"In a normal situation, I would be very optimistic. We think we gave someone an offer they can't refuse," Baggett said. "But this is not a normal situation, so who knows?"

Fox on the road&lt;

Fox brings its top-of-the-line football operation to the Bay Area for the 49ers-Cowboys game Sunday.

The network will do its pregame show live from Candlestick with James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Ronnie Lott working on a portable set in the stadium. It is the third time the Fox pregame crew has gone on site this season.

And of course, Pat Summerall and John Madden call the game. Fox has frequently looked to this game to garner its highest ratings of the regular season.

"This time it's different. Until Green Bay came along, either one of these two teams was going to win the Super Bowl. It was a two-team conference and this game determined whoever was the best that year," Madden said.

"That's not true now."

Dallas comes in at 4-4, its whole season perhaps on the line. And while the 49ers are an NFC-best 7-1, all seven wins have come against opponents in the weak NFC West.

"There are so many angles to this thing, it's going to be interesting," Long said. "It's still a big game because many of the same key people are involved, high visibility, marquee players."

Both Long and Madden believe that although the 49ers are 7-1 and have a firm grip on the NFC West lead, this game is important for them.

"We are going to see what kind of team the 49ers are," Long said. "The 49ers don't make up the schedule, they just play it. A lot of teams don't show up when they play patsies. But they have done a remarkable job."

"People have been waiting for the 49ers to play someone and this is the first real game they've had since Tampa," Madden said.

Around the dial&lt;

The golf season ends this weekend with ABC's telecast of the Tour Championship. Thanks largely to Tiger Woods, ratings are up all over the place. CBS, which had both the Masters and PGA this season, averaged a 3.9 rating for its golf telecasts, up from last year's 2.8. NBC, with the U.S. Open, had a 3.9 average for the season, and ABC, which had the British Open, had a 2.9. . . . Halfway through the season, NFL ratings are down. Fox's Sunday telecasts are down 3 percent at 10.0, NBC's are down 6 percent at 9.5, and ABC's Monday games are down 13 percent at 14.7. TNT's nine games averaged a 7.3 cable rating, the same as last year. That is equivalent to a 5.4 rating on a broadcast network. . . . ESPN makes its NFL Sunday night debut with Detroit-Green Bay at 5 p.m. . . . Bay TV will carry De La Salle High's attempt to tie the national record for consecutive victories when the Spartans play Pittsburg Friday at 7:30 p.m. Dave Cox and Brad Muster will call the game. It will be replayed on Bay TV at midnight and Saturday at 7:30 a.m.&lt;